Beaten in car race, bullies beat up youth

OUR CORRESPONDENT

The spot in Kadma where Amresh Kumar was attacked on Saturday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Overtaking a car can be risky. Overtaking a car full of rogues is an open invitation to trouble.

A resident of Mango learnt the lesson the hard way on Saturday night. Amresh Kumar of Vaastu Vihar was in a hurry to meet his sister in Kadma and committed the cardinal mistake of outsmarting a car that wouldn’t let him pass. He paid with a swollen face, bleeding mouth, his wallet and his driving licence.

The incident took place around 11pm near Chandi Baba Temple, barely 3kmfrom Kadma police station, where the 27-year-old telecom company manager lodged an FIR against his five tormentors on Sunday morning.

According to the complaint lodged by the victim, he met his brother-in-law Dr Dilip Singh — who was on emergency duty at Tata Main Hospital — around 10.30pmand then left for sister’s home at the Professional Flats residential complex.

Amresh took a turn towards Kadma from the Bistupur end and found himself trailing a car. “It was late and he was in a rush. He blew the horn of his car, but the other vehicle wouldn’t let him pass. After trailing for a while, the victim managed to find a gap on the left and overtook the car,” a source at Kadma police station said.

His hormones challenged, the driver of the other car began chasing Amresh at break-neck speed.

Alarmed, the youth deviated from his original destination and reached the Kadma-Sonari Link Road. Amresh’s plan was go to Awas Regency near Chandi Baba Temple, 2km away, and seek help from a friend who lived there.

Unfortunately for him, his friend was not home. No options left, he turned his car back and was intercepted at the entrance of the residential complex near the temple.

“The driver and his four friends — all must have been in their late twenties — alighted from the car and began hurling abuses in Hindi. And then they started hitting me,” the victim, who was assaulted so severely that he had to be sent to hospital with a swollen face and bleeding mouth, told the police.

The gang of five also snatched away Amresh’s wallet containing Rs 200 and his driving licence.

Kadma officer in charge sub-inspector Raju Thakur confirmed that the injured youth had been sent to MGM Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

On why a case had not been lodged against the culprits even after 24 hours, he added: “We have lodged an FIR. A case will be registered only after we probe the matter.”

East Singhbhum SSP Akhilesh Kumar Jha could not be contacted for his comments.

DSP (Headquarters-II) Raj Kishore Prasad claimed he was not aware of the incident. “I will talk to the Kadma OC and ensure that necessary action is taken,” Prasad said.